In 2003, the Newtown planning and zoning commission rejected the Buddhist group's plan to build a 7,600 square-foot temple, citing concerns about traffic and noise in a residential area.

Several neighbors objected to the project, voicing similar objections.

The Buddhist group filed a lawsuit shortly after the commission's decision, claiming it violated the federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act. The federal law is designed to prevent towns from using zoning laws to block the First Amendment rights of religious groups.